Letters to the Editor

Tools

I am amazed that so many black people in Memphis seem to have given up on the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King. The same week that the anniversary of King's assassination made Memphis the focus of international media, The Commercial Appeal published letters to the editor supporting school board member Kenneth Whalum Jr.'s plan to hire a "strong black man" as school superintendent. It appears from his recent comments that Mayor Herenton also wants to restrict candidates based on race and gender.

The civil rights movement attempted to correct injustices, including unfair hiring practices. It is ironic and puzzling to me that some black people in Memphis have now rejected these ideals. Replacing "COLOREDS NEED NOT APPLY" with "WHITES NEED NOT APPLY" is certainly not in the best interest of the city. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. King and many others, it is actually illegal. I find it difficult to believe that Herenton and Whalum need to be reminded of this fact.

Scott Dodson

Memphis

Scott McClellan

Everybody knows what happens as soon as a tell-all book is released that tells the truth about the Bush administration. The attack dogs come out of the woodwork to discredit the messenger but not necessarily to discredit the message.

Critics wonder why Scott McClellan didn't voice his concerns while he was a puppet in the administration. It's not hard to answer that question. If he called his boss and his advisers lying, double-dealing scum, he and his family would be relocated to Brazil.

Why shouldn't McClellan capitalize on his time in the White House? He's out of a job. Is Bush going to hire him to mow the lawn at the ranch? Truth always rises to the surface sooner or later. I said the same exact things five years before McClellan did. I even sent e-mails to certain publications voicing my concerns, and they sent them to the waste can. What McClellan is saying is absolutely reliable. If you believe Bush and his people are going to tell you the truth, then you are a fool.

Joe M. Spitzer

Memphis

Senile Charley Reese

Charley Reese is obviously way past being a senile, old man (The Rant, May 29th issue). He says we just need to be in another place when a bomb goes off. Unfortunately, people don't know where a bomb is going to go off.

Islamic Jihad's quarrel is with us. They're against everything we (the U.S.) base our country on. Women can't work or even show their faces in public. And if you aren't a Muslim, they want you dead. The administration that should have taken bin Laden out was Charley's buddy Bill Clinton's.

Lastly, Reese thinks we should develop some stoicism! So, in other words, if we did have a natural disaster on the level of China or Myanmar, we should be indifferent to the pain? How senile is this guy? It's obvious he's been writing for 50 years, but it's also very obvious he doesn't get paid to do it. Senile Charley writes for a free paper. That's enough said about his skills as a writer.

Jeremy Scruggs

Memphis

Editor's note: Charley Reese writes for Creators Syndicate and gets paid for his work, as do all Flyer writers.

Fake Patriots

Every Memorial Day, our friends on right-wing talk radio and at Fox News are kind enough to provide specific instructions about how to be a fake patriot. Here's a quick primer:

1) Praise the U.S. Constitution over and over, but treat it like toilet paper when it gets in your way.

2) Support all wars and claim that anyone who opposes any war, no matter how senseless, is really attacking our brave soldiers. Meanwhile, avoid service yourself.

3) While providing lip-service support for our soldiers, be in favor of sending them to war, fail to provide them with enough body armor, and then force them to serve multiple tours in harm's way. Finally, fail to support legislation guaranteeing them a good education when they return home.

4) Be in favor of the military violating the Geneva Conventions by torturing prisoners, then blame "rogue elements" in the military.

5) When all else fails, call everyone who disagrees with you an "idiot," a "commie," or a "traitor."

6) Repeat steps one through five over and over. If this comes easily for you, report to WREC immediately and get your own talk show.